STATETA BRO PRO BRO Grand Prix marked with a new track record!

To “Nemuno Žiedas” track, “Stateta BRO PRO BRO Grand Prix” event gathered not only motorsport enthusiasts but also skilled drivers piloting fast and eye-catching racing cars from all over the Baltic region. And those who weren’t deterred by the fact that, due to road repairs, access to the track required driving along gravel roads through forests and gardens, were well rewarded: this race was marked by a new track record.

New Track Record Belongs to Ramūnas Čapkauskas

The previous “Nemuno Žiedas” record was set five years ago by Arūnas Gečiauskas, who completed the track in 1 minute 09.943 seconds. Now, the record belongs to Ramūnas Čapkauskas, who has been racing here for over 30 years and knows every corner of the track by heart. With his newly acquired Lamborghini, during qualifying he completed the 3.350 km “Nemuno Žiedas” circuit in just 01:07.43 minutes. This new motorsport duo became the highlight of the event.

“We’re thrilled with both Ramūnas’ new purchase and his decision to race here. This once again proves to skeptics that it’s possible to race fast at ‘Nemuno Žiedas.’ We believe in this track’s potential and its energy – it’s truly unique, and we want it to thrive. Ramūnas’ record confirms that racing here can be a lot of fun, and we hope this achievement will inspire other drivers to come to this track, enjoy its corners, and test their limits,” said Andis Meilands, one of the organizers of the Baltic Touring Car Championship series.

Historically Calm Races Without Rain

There were 60 sprint race participants competing in different classes, 15 teams registered for the 2-hour endurance race, and a group of marshals prepared for skids, crashes, and hard work to keep the schedule on track. However, the qualifying and training sessions were accompanied not only by great spirits but also by bright sunshine, which stayed throughout Sunday. For the first time in nearly 6 years, the races were held without a single drop of rain and were exceptionally safe – without any major incidents.

The day begin with the drama series – the one and only „ABC Race” and „V1600”. It was not only the first race, but also the only race with so much stress and incidents. As both heats were finished, the points were assigned and event’s leaders clarified. In overall group, Andris Misins has celebrated the victory here, keeping Arturs Danilevskis and Roberts Ozolins right behind him. Andris Misins was dominating among all and including also Rookies, leaving Arturs Locs on the second step of the podium, as Karlis Skirmanis took the 3rd place here. As for „V1600” series, Mareks Matvejevs was uncatchable here, followed by Nauris Agafonovs and Janis Vanks.

Sprint Winners of an Event

With only two races left in the season, the tension among drivers was palpable: every point mattered, and every overtaking move was carefully calculated. It seemed that home-track advantage played a role for local drivers. One such driver was Tomas Buškevičius, who left no chance for Ricards Alekss Svaglis and Maris Bulans, who finished second and third respectively.
The “BTC2” class was filled with action – from overtakes to mechanical issues – and the fearless Estonian Kairo Kallas secured first place, followed by Marius Grigaitis and Kristupas Šablinskas. In “BTC3,” Artūras Kliobavičius claimed a convincing victory, with Atis Veismanis finishing second and Marta Starka third.

In the “GT” category, unsurprisingly, the fastest driver was Ramūnas Čapkauskas, with Gediminas Bakšys taking second place in the “BGT PRO” classification. In “BGT AM,” Rokas Kvedaras beat Aivaras Remeika, while in the “BGT AM+” group, after a fierce battle between two Ginetta drivers, Paulius Urbonavičius took first place, leaving Egidijus Gelūnas in second and Egidijus Gutaravičius (racing a Maserati) in third.

The “BMW 325 Cup” series, which was unexpectedly calm, saw Ragnar Simuland triumph over Lithuanian driver Darius Gaidulionis. The races in this series were extremely close – cars were separated by mere centimeters on the track. Ragnar not only won overall but also dominated the “PRO” class, ahead of Matiss Malinovskis and Aurimas Mištautas.
In the “Masters” group, Darius Gaidulionis was the fastest, followed by Karol Wyka and Janis Horeliks. In the “Rookie” classification, Saulius Jonaitis took the win, with Laimonas Starkevičius in second place. In the gentlemen’s group, Olivier Villeneuve claimed victory.

In the “BMW Turbo Cup,” the home advantage seemed to favor Povilas Bokevičius, who confidently won the race. Artjoms Koclamazashvili finished second, with Algirdas Gelžinis taking third place.

Smooth 2-Hour Endurance Race

The calm atmosphere of the sprint races also carried over into the endurance event, which took place without major incidents. The bigger drama unfolded in some garages, where overheating engines or other minor technical issues prevented teams from continuing or fully enjoying the competition.

After two relatively calm hours on the track, points were awarded, and the final trophies of the day were handed out. The Lithuanian “Baltic Karting Academy” team celebrated the biggest victory, crossing the finish line first. They also topped their “BGT AM” class. In the “BGT AM+” class, the “REIMPEX by GSR” team, with Egidijus Gelūnas at the wheel, snatched victory from the “RG Racing Team.” In the “BTC4” category, the winners were “Metrūna by Čapkauskas Autocentras,” with Julius Adomavičius unexpectedly stepping in as the driver. “Classic,” Julius said about the BMW after the finish. “MV Sport” finished second, with “Hemi Racing” in third.

In “BTC3,” the victory went to “RS Racing Team,” while among “BMW 325 Cup” participants, the fastest was the “RS Motorsport Jurmala” team. “Autokaslita” won in the “BTC2” category, followed by “Autokaslita Ladies”, and “LDV Racing Team” claimed victory in “BTC1.”

The next round will take place in Riga in August, and all results can be found at batcc.eu.